Aggression Equals Production For Hayes

Yeah, yeah, junior guard Eric Hayes scored a season-high 17 points and hit several crucial three-pointers down the stretch Saturday against Georgia Tech, but what encouraged Gary Williams the most about Hayes's performance was the assertiveness he displayed, specifically in the second half. Hayes attempted 16 shots on the day, but that wasn't the only indicator for Willams.

"He was aggressive in the second half," Williams said. "He was really aggressive, not just in making the shots, but with the basketball. I think when he's aggressive, like most players, he's a much better offensive player. In other words, a lot of times if you just drive the ball with the idea that you're forcing the other team to help and you kick it, that's really a good play. It doesn't show up in the stats, necessarily. I think it helps Eric's defense when he does that."

By nature, Hayes does not seem to be a very excitable person. Rather, he always appears calm, poised, collected and any other adjective that describes someone with a perpetually low heart rate.

Interestingly enough, Williams said, Hayes is roommates with fellow junior guard Greivis Vasquez, who is not known to be as tranquil.

"They are different personalities, there's no doubt about it," Williams said. "Eric is very laid back and Greivis is typical type-A. That's what's what a team is – different personalities. Different guys give different things to the team. We need what both those guys give us, without a doubt."

Hayes and Vasquez are two of the team's most consistently productive members. They are the only two Terps averaging more than 30 minutes per game. They are the only two players averaging more than three assists per game. They are the only two players hitting more than 90 percent of their free throws. They are the only two players with more than 20 steals. They are two of the three Terps averaging more than 10 points per game.

16 shots and 17 points?!?!? What a ballhog. Hayes is the worst player ever. Get your teammates involved. Man I hate this guy. Show some passion on the court. You look like your asleep out there. How selfish! Ugh!!! MD is the worst!!!

Oh wait that kind of hard hitting analysis only works for Vasquez? My bad...

How could any rational, normal person 'hate' Mr Hayes? He's a 'ballhog'? Selfish? What utter nonsense. Eric Hayes is a real gem on and off the court. Clearly he's well raised and a credit to the team and to UMd. His presence on the court seems reassuring. More aggressive play may or may not be in order but his contributions have been critical to the Terps modest winning percentages. Let's hope he's in a good frame of mind tonight. A Terp win at Miami would be key positive development.

it's not the quantity of shots but the quality. i don't care if vasquez takes 18 shots a game. it's when he jacks up a turn-around fade-away 3pt shot from the corner while still blanketed by the defender 10 seconds into a new shot clock that i don't understand. how many years of basketball does he need to play to learn that's a terrible terrible shot. it makes even less sense when you're you're shooting 0 for 6 from there during the game, and 5 for 26 over the last three games!

i love vasquez's aggressiveness, and while at times he frustrated me a lot last year, i always said, 'well over the summer he can look back and learn.' but unfortunately, so far, it looks like he hasn't.

he should take 14-18 shots a game. but only take 3s when they are clearly open and in the flow of the offense. his biggest offensive talents are being 6'6" and a great shot-maker in traffic.

hayes needs to play the point, and vasquez needs to stay at the 2 and 3 positions. if he does that, and hayes gets the offense set up and runs the sets, both players will perform a lot better.

AncientTerp,
Sarcasm man. Just pointing out the nonsense some other people are spewing at Vazquez. And how a spade is only a spade in their eyes when it's him.

And I totally agree GV is at his best slashign to the hoop and Hayes is at his best just running the point and setting up the offense. What would be nice is that when GV went to the hoop there was at least one other player in there with him to dish the ball to. The end of the Morgan State game has been sighted as him taking a tough shot. Which he did. and the other four Terps were standing at the 3 point line (worthless). He beat two guys to the spot and 2 guys challenged the shot. That's 1 defender left to grab the board. Where are you Neal and Milbourne? That's your job, get under the basket for the dish or easy putbacks. But no it's all Greivass's fault...

Relax a bit, segastyle. I think Vasquez has learned a lot since last year. It wasn't so long ago that - on this same blog - we were discussing how he's seemed to have matured. He's making better decisions.

I think the Morgan State game was a step back and that the old GV returned. And he had some moments during the Tech game, but for the most part he was making decent decisions. He's always going to have his moments. It's in his nature and it's tough for him to keep under control. But after a one-game lapse we shouldn't be writing off all the improvement he's made.

I totally agree with you AncientTerp. Too many shots went up against GT and everyone was out of position to rebound. I guess they were trying to be back on defense, which is a noble cause, but it is very frustrating to see shots go up and no-one boxing out to get the offensive rebound. If you are shooting well, no probs, but when the shots aren't going in...

Woops. My previous comment was towards Lee26's comment, which I agree with totally regarding the lack of offensive rebounding against GT. Terps backcourt is fine. Hayes could look for his shot more. GV is much improved this year as far as patience with the offense. But when long shots go up and there is no terp in sight to rebound, what's up with that!!???